Illegal timber found in a European Parliament building earlier this year
Europe matters
Around 80% of environment policy in the UK is decided in Europe and over the past five years the European Parliament has been a powerfully ally of ours. We need a European Parliament that supports the environment. Take a look at what the parties have to say on three key environmental issues and judge for yourself their green credentials.
What has the European Parliament done over the last term?
Among other things, elected members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted to strengthen the legislation on labelling of GM food products, ensure that polluters are liable for the damage they cause to the environment and have opposed the extension of the life of some of the most dangerous nuclear power plants in Europe.
If you want to see how the UK's current MEPs voted on environmental issues, please visit: www.eu-votewatch.org
Three Environmental Priorities for the next term of the European Parliament
Chemicals
The European Parliament are currently discussing proposals from the European Union to regulate chemicals and eliminate those of high concern. This legislation is known as REACH. In their next term the EP has the opportunity to strengthen this legislation in order to ensure that products are free from the most hazardous chemicals. To do this, MEPs have to vote on one simple change to this legislation:
Substances identified by REACH as of "very high concern" should no longer be permitted if a safer, viable alternative is available. This "substitution principle" must be a legal requirement.
We wrote to the parties and asked them:
Does your party support an amendment to the REACH legislation that ensures the 'substitution principle' is a legal requirement?
Click here to see what they said.
Ancient Forests
The European Commission are currently working on an Action Plan to combat the trade in illegal timber and wood products. One part of the plan is to investigate legal options to ban the import of illegally logged timber. Introduction this type of legislation is something Greenpeace are campaigning for and we wrote to the parties and asked them about their party position on this:
Do you support the introduction of legislation prohibiting the import into the EU of illegal forest products?
Click here to see what they said.
Climate
Climate change is the biggest environmental problem we face today. The European Union is in a strong position, as one of the world's biggest political and trading blocs, to take a lead on this issue. We asked the parties:
Will you strive to reform EU energy policy (including the financial flows within or originating from the EU) so as to secure a rapid shift away from fossil fuels and nuclear energy and towards clean renewable energy sources and energy efficiency?
Click here to see what they said.
